IAN Blackford has publicly named a man accused of abusing children while teaching at Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy.
The SNP MP told the House of Commons that he has a number of constituents who have complaints against the man, known until now as Edgar.
Understood to be in his 80s, the teacher - who is currently fighting extradition from South Africa - has been accused of abusing children in the 1970s.
One victim of the man won £450,000 in damages in December last year from the private school, and joined calls for him to be extradited. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the mathematics teacher had so far not been named.
But on Monday Blackford used the legal immunity afforded to MPs to publicly name the man in the House of Commons.
He told the Commons during Education Questions that the priority should be to keep school children safe from sexual predators.
Blackford said: “I'm sure the minister will be aware of the Scottish child abuse inquiry, detailing the horrific allegations from a number of witnesses to events at Edinburgh Academy and Fettes school by an individual referred to as ‘Edgar’.
“I have a number of constituents who have complaints against Edgar. This man has admitted to inappropriate behaviour and is currently fighting extradition from South Africa where he has been publicly named.”
Blackford said there was precedent in England where an abuser living in South Africa fighting extradition was publicly named.
“We now know that there are dozens of boys who have come forward to the police with allegations against this man referred to as Edgar,” he said.
“It is important that others who were abused by this man can come forward.
“It is right that his crimes against children are named and it is also right that he is now named."
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan replied: “Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime and the Government is sympathetic to the victims and survivors of such abuse as set out in November in response to the final report of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.
“It is important that due process is followed, allowing investigatory and legal processes to take place in order to maximise the chances of conviction.”
One of the man’s alleged victims was awarded £450,000 in damages in December last year, thought to be the largest awarded to a victim of historic abuse at the Scottish private school.
The former Fettes pupil, who received an apology from the school, joined calls from broadcaster Nicky Campbell for the former teacher to be extradited and face charges.
Laura Connor, head of Thompsons Solicitors' historic abuse unit, helped to secure the settlement for the alleged victim.
Connor, who represents many victims of abuse at both Edinburgh Academy and Fettes, said: "The use of parliamentary privilege to name the serial abuser known as Edgar is a matter for the politician involved.
"We hope in hearing that this man can no longer hide behind the veil of a fictitious name, a sense of relief and perhaps justice will be felt.
"The priority of my legal team continues to be securing further justice through our civil courts. As ever, we encourage anyone affected to report his abuse to Police Scotland.”
